ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Railways
Freight Corridor gathers speed
Constant weekly monitoring and meetings with all stake holders leads to acquisition / mutation of patches and sections of land in Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat which were long delayed
Railways even deploys its experts to assist the contractors to tide over operational difficulties at ground level implementation
On a mission mode, Dedicated Freight Corridor  of Indian Railways is gathering speed. Constant weekly monitoring and meetings with all stake holders lead to acquisition of patches and sections of land which were long delayed. Indian Railways even deployed its experts to assist the contractors to tide over operational difficulties at ground level implementation.
Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal held a review meeting with Chief Secretaries of State Government to expedite the progress & resolve critical issues of Dedicated Freight Corridor . The Minister also wrote letters to Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra in this regard. Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal has been holding review meetings with Dedicated Freight Corridor contractors to resolve their problems and issues.
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Railway Board Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav also wrote letters to Chief Secretaries of State Governments and General Managers of Zonal Railways to expedite the progress and resolve critical issues. Shri Yadav also held a meeting with Dedicated Freight Corridor contractors to resolve their problems and issues.
In the last week more than 20 meetings  held with respective field officials of L&T, PMC, TATA and DFC Officials. Various issues discussed in the meeting and resolved and timelines given.
Dashboard is being created to monitor km by km progress of project.
Open house video conferencing also started on daily basis to resolve critical issues of States Governments/Zonal Railways/Contractors on real time basis.
Resolving contractors’ problems in project interest during last one week is as under-
• Up to date payment to contractors as COVID-19 relief under GCC clause
• Simplification of GST payment process
• Railway supervisors provided to private contractors to get things moving at the ground level
Various issues like land possession for RUB/ROB, mutation of land, land issue for construction of high tension line, disbursement for private land, award for land as per original methodology etc. also resolved with State Governments of Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in last one week to expedite the progress of Dedicated Freight Corridor.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
All India Weather Inference 
According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department : 
The northern limit of Southwest Monsoon continues to pass through 5°N/80°E, 10°N/85°E, 13°N/90°E
and 16°N/94.5°E.
The Well Marked Low Pressure Area over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal concentrated into a Depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal and lay centred at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 23rd May, 2021 near latitude 16.1°N and longitude 90.2°E, about 560 km northnorthwest of Port Blair , 590 km eastsoutheast of Paradip , 690 km southsoutheast of Balasore  and 670 km southsoutheast of Digha . It is very likely to move northnorthwestwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by 24th May morning and further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It would continue to move northnorthwestwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near West Bengal and north Odisha coasts by 26th May morning. It is very likely to cross north Odisha West Bengal between Paradip and Sagar islands by evening of 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
The Western Disturbance as a cyclonic circulation over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu & Kashmir between 3.1km & 3.6 km above mean sea level with a trough aloft in mid & upper tropospheric westerlies with its axis at 5.8 km above mean sea level roughly along longitude 68°E
to the north of latitude 25°N persists.
- The cyclonic circulation over Northern parts of Central Madhya Pradesh at 0.9 km above mean sea level persists.
- The cyclonic circulation over Southwest Rajasthan at 0.9 km above mean sea level persists.
- The cyclonic circulation over Eastcentral Arabian Sea and adjoining Maharashtra coast between 3.1km & 3.6
km above mean sea level persists.
- A fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayan Region from the night of 26th May, 2021.
For more details kindly visit www.imd.gov.in or contact : +91 11 24631913, 24643965, 24629798
Prime Minister's Office
PM shares articles on 9 Years of Government
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared articles on 9 Years of Government.
The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted:
“Nine years of hope, aspiration and trust, writes Former President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji”
Sharing a tweet by Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted;
“Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Ji elaborates how the Government has overcome the challenge of change.
Sharing a tweet by Union Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar, the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted;
“Must Read!
EAM Dr S Jaishankar writes, "India is perceived as a responsible development partner, a First Responder, and a voice of the Global South."
Ministry of Textiles
Measures to Boost Earning of Handloom Weavers and Artisans
The Government of India has introduced following measures:
International Fairs were organised by different Export Councils in virtual mode as per details below:
|
|
Export Council
|
|
No. of Events
|
|
Handloom Export Promotion Council 
|
|
07
|
|
Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts  and Carpet Export Promotion council 
|
|
09
Both HEPC and EPCH participated in the Bharat Parv Festival organised by Ministry of Tourism. Besides, 66 domestic marketing events have also been sanctioned for different parts of the country.
Social media campaigns #Vocal4handmade was launched on the 6th National Handloom Day and 9th November, 2020 by the Government, in partnership with all stakeholders to ensure people’s support for the weaving and artisan communities.
- 534 number of Chaupals were organized in various States to educate the weavers to avail benefits of various handloom schemes.
- To ensure higher returns on Weavers’ through pooling of resources, 117 Handloom and 46 Handicraft Producer companies have been formed in different States.
- To promote e-marketing of handloom products, 23 e-commerce entities have been engaged for on-line marketing of handloom products.
- Design Resource Centres  have been set up in Weavers Service Centres  of Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bhubaneshwar and Guwahati with the help of NIFT.
- About 1.5 Lakh weavers and 30,000 artisans have been on-boarded on the on Government e-Market place  to enable them to sell their products directly to various Government Departments.
- Crafts Tourism villages have been sanctioned wherein craft promotion and tourism are being taken up simultaneously. As on date total 12 Crafts Villages have identified in both handicrafts and Handloom sector across the country.
The details of export of handlooms during last 2 years and current FY year is as below:
|
|
Financial Year
|
|
INR in Cr.
|
|
USD in mn.
|
|
2018-19
|
|
2392.39
|
|
343.43
|
|
2019-20
|
|
2248.33
|
|
315.62
|
|
2020-21 
|
|
983.60
|
|
132.14
The cumulative value of exports of handicrafts and handmade carpets during April- December 2020-21 stood at Rs. 25,213 crore .
|
|
S.No
|
|
Financial Year
|
|
Export 
|
|
-
|
|
2018-19
|
|
37914.00
|
|
-
|
|
2019-20
|
|
37069.00
|
|
-
|
|
2020-21 
|
|
25213.00
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Textiles, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani in Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister pays his obeisances to Sri Madhwacharya on Madhwa Navmi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid his obeisances to Sri Madhwacharya on the occasion of Madhwa Navami. He has also shared a video of his speech which he delivered on the occasion of 7th Centenary Celebrations of Jagadguru Madhwacharya, in February 2017
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “On the holy occasion of Madhwa Navami, I pay my respectful obeisances to Sri Madhwacharya. His noble message of spiritual and social upliftment will keep inspiring generations. Here is a speech I had given on Sri Madhwacharya.”
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
SEEPZ-SEZ organizes 10-day Mega Blood Donation Camp
Over 5,000 employees expected to donate
Mumbai, 22 May 2023
SEEPZ-SEZ, is set to mark its golden jubilee year with a grand gesture of compassion and social responsibility. As a part of this, a blood donation camp has been organized for ten days from today. This year's camp, will take place from today till May 31, 2023, which aims to surpass previous achievements and make an even more significant impact on society.
Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Zonal Development Commissioner inaugurated this Maha Blood Donation Camp today. He has expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the unit holders at SEEPZ for participating in the program actively and he has appealed to every Seepz member to join this noble cause of donating blood and saving lives.
Last year's blood donation camp at SEEPZ-SEZ witnessed an incredible outpouring of support, with more than 3,500 bottles of blood collected from selfless donors. Building on this success, the organisation anticipates an even larger turnout, with over 5,000 donors employed with over 150 units at SEEPZ-SEZ expected to participate in this year's camp. The event is organised in partnership with the Maharashtra State Blood Transfusion Council , ensuring the highest standards of safety and professionalism and the collected blood will serve seven govt. hospitals at Mumbai.
SEEPZ-SEZ has made necessary arrangements at three prominent locations within its premises – the BFC Building, SDF 8 and ICH canteen -to accommodate the many donors enrolled and for smooth operations. The event is facilitated by experienced medical professionals, guaranteeing a smooth and secure donation process.
The SEEPZ-SEZ Blood Donation Camp not only celebrates the organisation’s golden jubilee but also underscores the vital role that government departments play in driving social change. It showcases SEEPZ-SEZ's commitment to going beyond mere trade facilitation and actively engaging in initiatives that benefit the community. The camp presents an opportunity to save lives and create a lasting impact as employees of various units at SEEPZ-SEZ unite in the spirit of compassion and join in the endeavour to make a difference.PIB Mumbai | ST/ DR
Follow us on social media:@PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai
(Visitor Counter : 217
Ministry of Law and Justice
733 Fast Track Special Courts including 413 exclusive POCSO Courts operationalized in 28 States/UTs
The Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today informed that setting up of Fast Track Courts  and its functioning comes within the domain of the State Governments who set up such courts as per their need and resources, in consultation with the respective High Courts. As per information provided by the High Courts, 242 more FTCs have been setup up after 2017 .
The Union Government has started a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in October, 2019 for setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts  including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts in 31 States/UTs for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO Act, in pursuance to the Criminal Law  Act 2018 and the direction of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Suo Moto 1/2019 dated 25.7.2019. Initially, the Scheme was for 1 year which has now been continued up to 31.03.2023. As per information received from the High Courts,733 FTSCs including 413 exclusive POCSO Courts are operationalized in 28 States/UTs which have disposed a total of more than 1,24,000 cases since inception of the scheme and 1,93,814 cases are pending as on 31.10.2022.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves Proposal for higher allocation of power to Home State from Under Construction Projects of NTPC Ltd.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been approved the Proposal of Ministry of Power to allocate 85% power to the Government of Telangana generated from Telangana Super Thermal Power Project  of NTPC Ltd. and 85% power from expansion project of Patratu Thermal Power Station  of Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited , a subsidiary company of NTPC Ltd, to the State Government of Jharkhand.
Details:
Both the projects are being set up in two phases. Telangana Super Thermal Power Project will come up at Ramagundam in Peddapalli district and the Patratu Super Thermal Power Station will come at Patratu in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand. The first phase of the TSTPP will comprise two units of 800 MW each and second phase for three units of 800 MW each. Patratu Thermal Power Station  will comprise three units of800 MW each in first phase while two units 800 MW each in second phase.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 mandates that TPC shall establish a 4000 MW power facility in the Successor State Telengana, as mentioned in the Thirteenth Schedule of the Act.
The allocation of 85% power from PTPS expansion project  was prime condition in the Joint Venture Agreement between Government of Jharkhand and NTPC Ltd. for 4000 MW capacity expansion of PTPS.
Presently, Phase-I of both the projects are under construction. Telangana Super Thermal Power Project expected to commission in third quarter of 2020-2021. As per the investment approval dated 29.01.2016, the indicative completion cost of the Telangana Super Thermal Power Project  is Rs. 11811.26 crs. out of which Rs. 1849 crs. expenditure have been incurred upto March 2018.
Further, Phase-I of Patratu Super Thermal Power Station expected to commission in fourth quarter of 2022-2023. As per the investment approval dated 30.10.2017, the indicative completion cost of the PTPS expansion project is Rs. 18668 crores out of which Rs. 247.66 crore expenditure have been incurred upto March, 2018,
Impact:
Higher allocation of Power to the State of Telangana from TSTPP will ensure that the Central Government has taken the necessary measures as enumerated in the Thirteenth Schedule of the AP reorganisation act, for the progress and sustainable development of the successor States. Higher allocation of Power to the State of Jharkhand from PTPS will also help in improving the power scenario of the State. It will facilitate mission of the Government towards providing power to all.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Karnataka ASHA: Demonstrating the true spirit of a Social Health Activist
About 1.59 crore households covered in a Vulnerability Mapping Survey by 42000 ASHAs
Annapurna is an ASHA working in Tunganagar in Shivamogga District, Karnataka. She covers a population of 3000 in the slum area and has been working there since 2015, when urban ASHA were introduced as part of the National Health Mission. One of her key tasks as part of COVID-19 activities is to conduct household surveys.
Karnataka’s 42,000 ASHAs have emerged as a crucial pillar in the State’s success in combating COVID-19. They have been actively participating in the COVID-19 household surveys and screening inter-state passengers, migrant workers, and others in the community for symptoms of COVID-19. Recognizing the increased vulnerability of certain population groups to COVID-19, in a one-time survey to identify households with the elderly, persons with co-morbidities, and immuno-compromised individuals, about 1.59 crore households were covered. ASHAs regularly monitor such high-risk groups in their area with periodicity of follow-up visits varying from once a day in the Containment Zones to once very 15 days in other areas. They also visit the houses of persons expressing complaints of ILI/SARI symptoms, and high-risk individuals who have called the State Health Department helpline numbers.
Uniquely, ASHAs are part of the Rural Task Force headed by Panchayat Development Officer  at the Gram Panchayat level for addressing public grievances on both COVID-19 and non COVID-19 related services. Urban ASHAs have been on the forefront of dissemination of various awareness activities in the Fever clinics and Swab Collection Centres in Urban areas. They have also actively screened cases of ILI and SARI in the urban areas. They are also part of the screening teams at the International and Interstate check-posts.
Glimpses from Karnataka: ASHAs at work against COVID-19
Ministry of Defence
CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF REVIEWS SECURITY ALONG THE LINE OF CONTROL IN KASHMIR
On the second day of his two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff  reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control.
The COAS accompanied by Lt Gen YK Joshi, the Northern Army Commander and Lt Gen DP Pandey, Chinar Corps Commander visited the formations and units, wherein the local Commanders briefed the COAS on the existing security situation and the measures instituted to foil infiltration by terrorists from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The COAS interacted with the troops and complimented them for their high morale and the high state of operational preparedness. While appreciating the current state of peace prevailing along the Line of Control, he cautioned all commanders and troops to not let their guard down and to remain prepared to meet any emerging security challenges effectively. The Army Chief also complimented all Government agencies for their close coordination in maintaining peace in the region and reaching out to the people wholeheartedly to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
________
(Visitor Counter : 369
Ministry of Defence
Clarification: Indigenously manufactured items amongstnegative list for imports
Consequent to release of the negative list of items for import by Ministry of Defence  on August 09, 2020, certain queries have been received with respect to inclusion of some of the items like the light combat aircraft LCA Mark 1A, Pinakarocket system and Akash missile system, which are manufactured in India. It is highlighted that systems like LCA MK 1A, Pinakarocket system, Akash Missile System, etc are developed with qualitative requirements framed by Defence Forces. Such systems are also available in the international market.
Nomenclature of such weapon systems have been included in the negative list of imports to ensure that the Defence Services do not go in for procurement of similar systems ex-import. It is also highlighted that for a product to be considered as an indigenous system, the percentage of indigenous content has to meet minimum laid down specifications. Hence, manufacturers are also required to ensure indigenisation and decrease import content to the permissible limits.
Therefore, it is clarified that the reason for specifying systems presently made in India with part-import content is to ban procurement of such equipment or items which carry similar qualitative requirements but are often contracted under differing nomenclatures.
Ministry of Finance
FM chairs the 35th GST Council Meeting held today in the national capital;
Council takes various important decisions including extension of the tenure of National Anti-Profiteering Authority by 2 years among others
The 35th GST Council Meeting was the First Meeting of the Council after the swearing in of the new Government. The Meeting took place in a cordial and professional manner.
At the start of the Meeting, the Council passed a resolution acknowledging the stellar role played by Shri Arun Jaitley, the former Chairperson of GST Council and expressed its gratitude and appreciation for the exemplary contribution made by him in making the GST Council a shining example of co-operative federalism that it has become today. The Council also thanked the outgoing Members and welcomed the new Members of the Council. It also expressed its deepest condolences at the untimely demise of Shri Prakash Pant, the former Finance Minister of Uttarakhand.
Altogether, 12 Agenda items were discussed during the Council meeting. Some of these items were of regular nature like confirmation of the Minutes of the 34th GST Council Meeting, deemed ratification by the Council of notifications, circulars and orders issued by the Central Government between 12th March, 2019 and 11th June, 2019, taking note of the decisions of GST Implementation Committee, etc.
The Council took a decision regarding location of the State and the Area Benches for the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal  for various States and the Union Territories with legislature. It has been decided to have a common State Bench for the States of Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The tenure of National Anti-Profiteering Authority has been extended by 2 years.
The Council also decided to introduce electronic invoicing system in a phase-wise manner for B2B transactions. E-invoicing is a rapidly expanding technology which would help taxpayers in backward integration and automation of tax relevant processes. It would also help tax authorities in combating the menace of tax evasion. The Phase 1 is proposed to be voluntary and it shall be rolled-out from January 2020.
Election Commission
Biennial Elections to the Council of States to fill the seats of members retiring between 28.07.2023 to 18.08.2023
The term of office of 10 members of the Council of States elected from following 03 States is due to expire on their retirement on the dates during the period from July-August, 2023, as detailed below:
|
|
S. No
|
|
Name of State
|
|
Name of Member
|
|
Date of Retirement
|
|
-
|
|
Goa
|
|
1
|
|
Vinay D. Tendulkar
|
|
28.07.2023
|
|
-
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
1
|
|
Dineshchandra Jemalbhai Anavadiya
|
|
18.08.2023
|
|
2
|
|
Lokhandwala Jugalsinh Mathurji
|
|
3
|
|
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Krishnaswamy
|
|
-
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
1
|
|
Derek O’Brien
|
|
18.08.2023
|
|
2
|
|
Dola Sen
|
|
3
|
|
Pradip Bhattacharya
|
|
4
|
|
Sushmita Dev
|
|
5
|
|
Shanta Chhetri
|
|
6
|
|
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray
2. Now, the Commission has decided to conduct biennial elections to the Council of States from above mentioned States in accordance with the following programme:
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Events
|
|
Dates
|
||
|
Issue of Notifications
|
|
06th July, 2023 
|
||
|
Last date of making nominations
|
|
13th July, 2023 
|
||
|
Scrutiny of nominations
|
|
14th July, 2023 
|
||
|
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures
|
|
17th July, 2023 
|
||
|
Date of Poll
|
|
24th July, 2023 
|
||
|
Hours of Poll
|
|
09:00 am- 04:00 pm
|
||
|
Counting of Votes
|
|
24th July, 2023  at 05:00 pm
|
||
|
Date before which election shall be completed
|
|
26th July, 2023 
3. Broad Guidelines of Covid-19 issued by ECI as contained in para 32 of Press Note, dated 29th March, 2023, available at link https://eci.gov.in/files/file/14863-general-election-to-legislative-assembly-of-karnataka-2023/ to be followed, wherever applicable, during entire election process by all persons.
4. The Commission has also directed the Chief Secretaries concerned to depute a senior officer from the State to ensure that the extant instructions regarding COVID-19 containment measures are complied with while making arrangements for conducting these biennial elections.